Strap-tightening tool



Feb. 10, 1959 F. H. HALE ETAL 2,873,090

STRAP-TIGHTENING TOOL Filed Dec. 6, 1952 Inventor-s:

Fred H. Hale, Robert H. Page,

Their Attorney.

United States Patent STRAP-TIGHTENING TOOL Fred H. Hale, Baldwinsville, N. Y., and Robert Homer Page, Burbank, Calif.,, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 6, 1952, Serial No. 324,564

2 Claims. (CL 254-79) Our invention relates to strap-manipulating implements and, more particularly, pertains to a novel straptightening tool.

An object of our invention is to provide a novel strap tightening tool which may be employed, in connection with tiedown straps for securing equipment or packages in place on a moving vehicle, to produce greater strap tension than heretofore possible.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel strap-tightening tool which may be quickly and easily applied to a strap that is to be tightened and which may be quickly and easily removed from association with the strap.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel strap-tightening tool which is simple and inexpensive to construct and yet is entirely efficient and reliable in operation.

A strap-tightening tool in accordance with our invention comprises a stop element and a rotatable clamping member supported by a common mounting base. The clamping member is provided with a strap-engaging surface eccentrically disposed relative to the rotational axis of the member. Thus, the clamping surface is movable from a release position out of engagement with the stop element to a clamping position in incipient engagement with the stop element thereby releasably to clamp a strap between the clamping surface and the stop element. An actuating handle is connected with the base and means are associated with the base to effect a pivotal movement of the tool with displacement of the actuating handle. In that way a tension force may be applied to the strap under treatment.

For additional objects and advantages, and for a better understanding of the invention, attention is now directed to the following description and accompanying drawing. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a strap-tightening tool constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the strap-tightening tool of Fig. 1 in association with a strap to be treated or tightened.

' Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a strap-tightening tool embodying our invention is shown to comprise a mounting base constructed of an elongated slab of strong metallic material, such as steel. One extremity of a cylindrical metal stop element 11 is welded into a transverse opening 12 in one end of base 10 and the stop element extends from the upper surface of base 10.

The strap-tightening tool also includes an essentially cylindrical metal clamp member 13 which, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a longitudinal opening or bore 14. Bore 14 receives shaft 15, which has one of its ends welded into an opening 16 in base 10 adjacent opening 12. The shaft extends from the upper surface of the 2,873,090 Patented Feb. 10, 1959 2 mounting base in a direction parallel to post 11. Clamp member 13 thus is rotatably supported on base 10.

The upper end surfaces of member 13 and shaft are disposed in a common plane and a screw 17 is threaded into the upper extremity of shaft 15. A washer 18 is interposed between these upper surfaces and the head of screw 17 and thus axial displacement of member 13 is prevented while its rotational movement is not in hibited.

Cylindrical outer surface 19 of member 13 is knurled and is eccentrically disposed relative to the rotational 'axis'20 definedby shaft 15 and bore 14. It is of such proportion that a sectionthereof is movable with rotation of member 13 from a release position out of engagement with stop 11, as shown, to a clamping position, illustrated by a dash line 19', in incipient engagement with stop 11;

An operating handle 21 has one'extremity fixed within a notch in the upper end of member 13, as by welding, and extends transversely of axis 20. Thus, by displacing lever 21 in the direction of arrow A, member 13 may be rotated and a strap releasably clamped between surface 19 and stop 11.

The strap-tightening tool further includes another stop element 22 and another clamp member 23 associated therewith. These components are essentially identical in construction to stop 11 and clamp member 13, however, the outer, eccentric surface of the clamp is arranged so that upon rotation of a control level 24, in a rotational direction B, opposite to direction A, member 23 rotates about axis 25 and the surface is carried from a release position to a clamping position in incipient engagement with stop 22 for releasably clamping a strap. Furthermore, member 23 is shorter'than member 13 in a longitudinal direction in order to provide clearance between handle 21 and the upper extremity of member 23.

A portion 26 of base 10 extends from the location of components 11, 13, 22 and 23 and constitutes an actuating handle connected with the base which, as shown in Fig. 3, is employed for operating the tool.

In Fig. 3, there is illustrated a package or equipment 50 which is to be secured to floor 51 of a vehicle 52. A strap 53 passes over package 50 and extends toward the right and then downwardly to a position (not shown) at which it is secured to floor 51. Strap 53 is threaded through a tie-down clamp 54 which is fixed to floor 51 and thus a portion 55 of the main body of the strap as well as a free end 56 extend from tie-down clamp 54. In order to apply the strap tightening tool embodying our invention to strap 53, portion 55 of the strap is inserted between stop 11 and clamp member 13 and portion 56 is inserted between stop 22 and clamp member 23. Lever 21 is then rotated in the direction of arrow A and strap portion 55 is thereby clamped between the outer surface of member 13 and stop 11. Lever 24 is rotated in the direction of arrow B to clamp strap portion 56 between the surface of member 23 and stop 22. Thereafter, tiedcwn clamp is released and an upward or lifting force, in the direction of arrow C, is applied to actuating handle 26. This produces a downward force on strap section 55 with an upward force on section 56, thereby to tighten strap 53.

Either set of elements 11, 13 and 22, 23 may be considered to function as a pivot point about which member 10 is rotated, with the remaining set operating as a clamp. There is thus provided a clamp and means associated with base 10 to etfect pivotal movement of the tool with displacement of actuating handle 26.

It is evident that as a result of producing upward and downward forces on the strap, resulting forces on the tool cause clamp members 13 and 23 to be further rotated in their respective directions initially effected when the tool was applied to the strap. Hence, as the force is ins ea eda dam as .Q .wesias.. rss th 21am members on the strap sections are increased. This, of course, prevents slippage of :the strap and greater strap tensions than ,heretofore possible pray the ,obtained.

PQ b i in a rsq irsdst a en i n," i alown clamp 54 .is locked and control leyers gland 2,4; are rotated in respective directions ,qppositegtothe gdirections of arrows A and -B thereby to release .the straptightening tool from strap 53, .If ,greater {tension is desired, the tool may be again applied -,in the manner just ,described.

From the foregoing description it is apparent {that the a nin 10. 1 con tlw fid n ac rdan e i o tin n o is easi yan tquie s y l ed t a s ap t be tightened. Moreover, it .is also easily ,and quiekly em ed r as ci t o h th stra'v- A n pcs .E s an 2 r sal z h th s apti htenins IQQ m dyin ou in ent s comp s d O e at v y. imp e easi yr du s com onen Pa Therefore, ,no;cornplex fabrication processes ,need be employed and the -tool is simple and inexpensive to construct altho gh it is entirely efficient and reliable in operation.

While,specificembodiments have been shown anddescribed, it will of course be understood that various modificatiens ,may be made without departing from the principles of the invention. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover'any such modifications .within the true spirit and scope ;of the invention.

What we claim as new .and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

1. A strap-tightening tool comprising a base, a pair of stop elements fixed to said base and extending from one surface thereofi a pair of shafts fixed to said base extending from said one surface thereof, and each .disposed adjacent a respectiveone of said stop elements, a first clamp member having a bore receiving one of said shafts and having an essentially cylindrical outer surfacedisposed eccentrically relative to said bore and surface of one ,of said step elements, said member thereby movable from a release position out of engagement with one of said stop elements to a clamping position in ,ineipient engagement therewith t ro at on o aid firs clamp membe in on dire tion, and a second clamp member having a bore receiving the other of said shafts and having an essentially cylindrical outer surface disposed eccentrically relative to said bore and surface of second of said stop elements, and said second clamp member thereby movable from a release position out of engagement with the other of said stop elements to a .elamping position in incipient engagement therewith with rotation of said second clamp member-in a direction opposite-to said onedirection.

2. A strap-tightening tool. comprising a base, a-pair of stop elements fixed to said base and extending from one surfacenthereof, a pair of shafts fixed to said base extending from said one surface thereof, and each disposed adjacent a respective one of said stop elements, a first clamp member having a bore receiving one of said shafts and having an essentially cylindrical outer surface disposed :eccentrically ;relative to said bore and surface of said respec tive stop element, said first member thereby movable from a release position out of engagement with one of saidstop elements to a clamping position in incipient engagement therewith with rotation of said first clamp member in one direction, a second clamp member having a bore receiving the other of said shafts and having an essentially-cylindrical outer surface disposed eccentrically relative .to said bore and surface of said respective stop element, said second member thereby movable from a release position out of engagement with the other of said-stop elements to ,a clamping position in incipient engagement therewith with rotation of said second clamp member in a direction opposite to said one direction, said base including a handle portion for manipulating said tool, and means for rotating said first and second clamp members between their aforesaid release and clamping positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 291,560 Willis Jan. V8, 1884 298,910 Stevenson May 20, 1884 523,971 Burkholder Aug. 7, 1894 1,438,955 Gilmore Dec. 19, 1922 

